Blasts case: Caretaker of Batla House flat denied bail

PTISep 24, 2008, 09.58pm IST

NEW DELHI: The alleged caretaker of the L-18 Batla House flat where two suspected militants were killed in an encounter was on Wednesday denied bail by a Delhi court which termed the charge of harbouring terrorists as "serious".

"The investigation is still at an initial stage. Whether it is the accused (Abdul Rehman), who is the caretaker of the building, who harboured the said tenants alleged to be engaged in terrorist activities or it was done by the owner of house is yet to be ascertained," Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Sudesh Kumar said.

"In view of the seriousness of the offences alleged, its effect on society and the drastic consequences, which have ensued, I am not inclined to grant bail to the present accused," the MM, in his three-page order said.

Rehman, a stenographer of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department, was arrested on the complaint of flat-owner Mohsin Nissar, who is also an engineer with the same department, that the accused forged his signature in the lease deed, which was executed while giving the flat to the two suspected terrorists on rent.

The court took note of the fact that the tenants, including Mohd Atif, who was killed in the encounter, were allegedly involved in the synchronised serial blasts that killed 26 persons in the capital on September 13.

Earlier, M S Khan, counsel for the accused, alleged that the police have failed to produce the original lease deed, the crucial piece of evidence, which was allegedly forged by Rehman.